Workshops Galore to be Featured at The Gathering 2026

Excitement for The Gathering: Many Gifts, One Spirit is building as a plethora of workshops are formulated for attendees. To be held March 24-26, 2026, at the Hyatt Regency in Indianapolis, The Gathering will draw some 500 attendees from the five participating faith traditions: Mennonite, Methodist, Presbyterian, Quaker, and United Church of Christ.

Thirty-five workshops will take place across the three days, including eight presenters CHHSM participants will find familiar. In addition, some of the 35 workshops will be led by staff from all five health and human service organizations. 

“The sheer number of professional workshops on important topics essential to CHHSM agencies make The Gathering a ‘must attend’ event,” said Jamar Doyle, president and CEO of CHHSM. “This will be an excellent opportunity for all attendees to meet and exchange ideas with colleagues from across the country.”

The workshops fall into five tracks, or categories, and each track includes seven workshops: 

Holistic Care and Community. Within this track will be “Reframing Aging: One Mission Across Generations, presented by the Rev. Beth Long-Higgins, vice president of engagement for United Church Homes and director of its Center for Abundant Aging, based in Marion, Ohio.

Other topics will include honoring identity in dementia care, repurposing church property, reaching teens, and spiritual care best practices, among other.

Governance and Strategic Planning. This track includes “A Case Study Success Story: Alternatives to Merger/Acquisitions.”

On the faculty of this workshop will be Tommy Brewer, managing director of Ziegler, based in Chicago. Ziegler is a long-time partner and resource for CHHSM.

Other topics will include protecting tax status, strengthening faith-based boards, future-proofing leadership and more.

Marketing and Fundraising. Two CHHSM agencies have workshops in this track. “Many Gifts: effective and Measurable Fundraising” will be led by Nicole Pretre, president and CEO of Cedar Community in West Bend, Wis.

“The Power of Storytelling: Inspiring Engagement and Generosity” will include the Rev. Dr. Thad Austin, vice president of EveryAge, based in Newton, N.C.

Other workshop topics include planned giving, baby boomers, rebranding, and more.

Workforce Excellence and Leadership. This track features UCC minister the Rev. Diane Weible, founder of Enkei Resolutions, presenting the workshop “Navigating Healthy Conflict with Trauma-Informed Tools,” and the Rev. Michael Erwin, executive director of Good Samaritan Inc. in Evansville, Ind., presenting a workshop on “Adaptive Leadership and Faithful Innovation: A Case Study.” Other topics include creating purpose-driven workplaces, merit-based raises, and employee well-being and safety, among other.

Operations and Financial Stewardship. Tyler Hoffman, associate vice president for information and technology with the National Benevolent Association of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and long-time CHHSM consultant, will lead a workshop on “Mastering Microsoft 365: Tools for Focused, Values-Aligned Productivity.”

Additionally, Amy Castleberry and Tommy Brewer of Ziegler will discuss “Senior Living and Capital Markets: Strategic Insights for C-Suite Leaders.

Mission expansion and financial stewardship, compliance, and ChatGPT will be among the other topics in this track.

In addition to the 35 workshops, The Gathering will feature three transformational keynote addresses, inspirational worship, and premium networking experience with partner health and human service peers.

But while The Gathering is a new effort in this millennium, it actually is carrying on a long tradition of collaboration among faith-based health and human service organizations. The annual Protestant Health and Human Service Assembly (PHHSA) brought many “denominational” health and human service organizations together during the 1970s, a tradition that ended in the early 1990s. PHHSA included keynote speakers, workshops, and exhibits, much like attendees will find at The Gathering.

“In addition to CHHSM, [organizers and attendees of PHHSA included] the Mennonites, Lutherans, Methodists, Baptists, and even the Salvation Army,” said Bryan Sickbert, president and CEO of CHHSM from 1991 to 2014. “Several of these organizations, including CHHSM, held their annual corporate meetings in conjunction with the PHHSA. It was a large annual event with around 2,000 people in attendance.”

Next March, the Gathering will ignite the same passion and excitement for collaboration and ministry that those early PHHSA conferences started. “I applaud this new ecumenical initiative,” added Sickbert. “Even if it is not the first, it could be the best.”

Doyle reflected on the historical weight of The Gathering. “It is exciting to start this new tradition of collaboration, standing on the shoulders of our earlier sister and brothers,” he said. “The Gathering promises to bring new ideas and a refreshed approach to working together in service to our communities.”